//------------------------------// // Part 2 // Story: Hearts and Hooves Day Experiment // by snobbleweb //------------------------------// “Rainbow, wait!” Twilight exclaimed, ready to chase her out, but she stopped, bowing her head. Rainbow had calmed down by the time she had reached her cloud home, but she still felt a horrid pit in her stomach. Well today could have gone better. She thought, settling down inside her house. She took a moment to look at the entrance to see a tuft of pink hair peeking through her door. “Flutters, come on out now,” Rainbow sighed, falling back into the soft clouds. “Oh! Um...” Fluttershy flew in quickly then slowed down near Rainbow. “So… How did it go?” She asked shyly. Rainbow Dash gave out a large groan, covering her face with her foreleg. “Did you… Uh, talk to her?” Fluttershy asked gently. “YEAH.” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, making Fluttershy flinch, she seemed very upset over this whole thing and Fluttershy was confused. Rainbow looked up at her and quickly apologized. “Sorry… It just didn’t really go as I planned,” Rainbow got up and sat on the cloud bed next to her yellow friend. Fluttershy smiled tenderly, wrapping a comforting wing around Rainbow. “Love is complicated sometimes, you just have to keep trying,” “Why should I keep trying if she’s in love with someone else?!” Rainbow said, crestfallen. Fluttershy frowned, and nudged Rainbow in the shoulder. “Tell me what happened,” Giving a heaving sigh, Rainbow explained everything. “So… She isn’t necessarily still into him?” Fluttershy questioned once the story was over. Rainbow paused, mulling it over. “Well, no.” “Then it’s still possible to give her the letter,” Fluttershy said in an encouraging tone. “Not after my… Exit.” “Maybe I should talk to her?” Fluttershy offered, trying to comfort her close-to-tears friend. “No!” Rainbow said, horrified. “She can never know now,” Fluttershy scrunched up her nose at Rainbow’s discouraging behaviour. Determined to help these two ponies get together, she flew out the window and headed straight for the library. Rainbow heard Fluttershy leave and watched her descent out of the corner of her eye. In just a moment, she realized where she was headed and raced after her. She caught up in seconds and tackled her in midair. “This is why I told you and not Pinkie! Don’t tell her!” Fluttershy blushed at her behavior, then nodded. “Sorry.. I just want you to tell her,” She said, smiling. Rainbow blushed too, thinking about it. “Thanks Flutters,” She hugged Fluttershy. “I promise I will… Eventually..” Rainbow’s eyes darted to the ground and saw Twilight staring up at them. Rainbow panicked and little bit and pretended not to have seen her and bolted the other direction. Meanwhile… Twilight sat in her library, blinking in shock at Rainbow’s sudden burst of anger and depart quickly out the door. She quietly blamed herself and stomped a hoof on the wooden floor. “Get it together, Sparkle!” she walked over to her experimenting desk, and stared blankly and angrily down at her bottles. She was no longer in the mood to finish her experiment, so she started cleaning up. “I finished!” Spike burst into the library from the kitchen, holding a plate of hayburgers. Twilight perked up a bit and trotted over to him. “Thank you Spike, they look delicious,” She levitated one off the plate. Spike blushed and beamed. Twilight bit into the burger and turned back to her work of putting away her experiment. Taking a hefty bite, she shuffled through a stack of books. She stopped mid chew, and watched as a white envelope floated to the ground. She lifted it to her face and opens it, taking another bite of her food. -Dear- Hi Twilight, -You’re so cute.- Remember when I said I was into mares? -Yeah.- Well there’s a certain mare that I like. -Wow I wonder who!- So I just wanted to see if you shared the feeling. It’s you who I like. I hope this doesnt ruin our friendship! -You’re so important to me.- I don't want that. I just can’t bottle it up anymore… And fluttershy says I should tell you. I have no reason to think you’re into mares, but I… Can’t help myself from liking you. I honestly have no idea what to write here I feel like I’m rambling, but there it is. I love like you. -Love From Sincerely- Rainbow Dash Twilight blinked, her mouth open, pieces of hayburger falling out. She read the last line and saw the signature little drawing of her cutie mark, but this time it had a little star next to it. She set down the letter and turned away from it, blushing intensely. Spike, who was sweeping until he saw Twilight’s face. He scuttled over. “What’s wrong?” “I-” Twilight stared at him for a moment before composing herself. “Nothing.” She said, picking up the letter and galloping out the door of the library. Everything seemed to come into focus. That’s why she ran away when I mentioned Flash! I need to explain… She ran across ponyville towards Dash’s house, before spotting a certain blue pegasus flying above. She slowed and stopped below her and Fluttershy. They were talking but she couldn’t hear what about. She would never admit it, but she assumed it was about her. She set the letter in her wings, and waited for them to notice her. Finally she saw Rainbow look down. But only for a moment, she quickly looked away then flew off. Twilight sprung into action. Twilight flew as fast as she could, but she could barely keep up with the fleeing Rainbow Dash. “Dash!” She called out. Rainbow Dash halted immediately. This wasn’t enough warning for Twilight and they collided mid air. They both yelped as they fell downward a few feet before catching themselves. Twilight panted, not able to speak for a bit. Dash waited patiently, wanting to speak but showing self control. Twilight, still out of breath, showed the letter she had been holding onto with her magic. The two locked eyes. Twilight with an expression of sympathy and Rainbow with one of utter horror. “I read your letter…”